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21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35 NIV Bible)
Someone upset Peter that day, or so it seemed. He was married, after all. He comes to Jesus to get clarification on this forgiveness business. To his credit, Peter thought about what he was going to ask Jesus and knowing the rabbinic law of needing to forgive our brother and sister three times, doubles that and adds one. "What a good boy am I!" thinks Peter and awaits the praise of Jesus, you know, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Not so. Jesus counters his very generous offer of seven with seventy-seven times, or as some other version have it as seventy times seven, which in other words has Jesus saying, one never counts the times one forgives those who sin against us. And to demonstrate His point, Jesus shares a parable about a king and his servant, who is in debt to him for 10,000 bags of gold. That really captured the audience's attention. Could you imagine if that was you, or me? To be in debt to a king for that huge amount of money??
The story has the king angered by this amount due him. The king's initial reaction is to have this man and his wife and his family, imprisoned until the amount could be paid. This was a cultural understanding and it was within the king's power to do such a thing. The servant falls to his knees when he hears the king's order and begs for his family and him to not be imprisoned, and he promises to repay the entire debt. His pleas touch the heart of the king and so he pardons the man. The happy man exits the building and on the sidewalk outside runs into a fellow servant who owes him 100 silver coins, he grabs the man by the neck and begins to choke him and demand full payment of this debt. This surprised servant falls to his knees and pleads for his freedom and that of his family as well. But the forgiven servant refuses and orders the debtor thrown into prison until his debt is paid. This incident does not go without notice, for other servants saw and heard the encounter between the forgiven and unforgiven servants go and report this to the king. The king is angered and then orders the imprisonment of the first servant, where he is to be tortured until this debt is paid back. And Jesus closes the parable with these words, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
Forgiveness is a key component of faith. Jesus stressed that God will deal harshly with those who should no mercy towards others. Jesus said several times that the ones who show mercy will receive mercy. Forgiveness is so important that we have several adages which explain the centrality of forgiveness to faith, and our own wellbeing. Here are just some: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." - This adage underscores the idea that holding onto grudges and resentment can be more harmful to oneself than to the person who committed the offense. "Forgiveness doesn't make the other person right; it makes you free." - This saying emphasizes that forgiveness is not an endorsement of the wrongdoing but a means to find emotional and mental freedom. "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong." - This statement, often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, suggests that forgiveness requires strength and resilience. "Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." - This adage uses the image of a crushed violet to convey the idea that forgiveness can be a beautiful and healing act. "Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude." - This adage emphasizes that forgiveness is not a one-time event but a continuous choice. "Forgiveness is the final form of love." - This saying suggests that forgiveness is the highest expression of love and compassion. "To forgive is to give up the hope for a better past." - This adage highlights that forgiveness is about accepting the past and moving forward. "Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred." - This adage uses the metaphor of keys and handcuffs to illustrate how forgiveness can free us from negative emotions.
To forgive is essential to our faith and our health. Jesus points us the way we should go.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, We come before You with hearts heavy with the weight of unforgiveness. We acknowledge that forgiving others can be one of the most challenging acts of love and grace, yet we know it is a commandment You have given us. Lord, we ask for Your strength and guidance as we embark on this journey of forgiveness. Grant us strength to truly be people of forgiveness; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Become a person who forgives.
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
